Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1887-06-17

i ation; then, taking q piece OF cord
from his pocket, he bound the trigger
to the rear OF the guard. He laid the
formidable weapon on a chair by his
side; then lighted an old pipe and he
gan smoking. Thus, through the night
hours, he kept his vigil. What, his
thoughts were, no one could tell; for
no sign OF them appeared ON the rug
eed features lighted up by the
cheerful blaze. It was just day
light when he heard sounds overhead
and, after an interval, steps ON the
stairs. He arose and stood erect, and
with the slx-shooter in the firm grasp
OF his left hand covered the door, hold
ing his right hand in front OF the ham
ner, ready for that quick and deadly
motion called tanning" Another
moment, and the door softly opened
and Beaver-Dam Bill entered, followed
by his companion. They must have
been looking cautiously downward
and picking their steps, for they were
both in the room before they saw the
weapon pointed at them, and the
fierce eyes behind it, and heard the
command:
"Hold up yer hands--ye"' They
Obeyed in an instant, in unmistak able
surprise and panic. Uncle Jim ad,
yanced.
~ don't know why I didn't shoot
the pair OF We on sight," said he in
| concentrated tones.
The small man, erin zing before him,
| managed to command his voice.
| Ia l1 81.
shoot, don't shoot! We amt a dom
no harm Hope to die eff I ain'tglvin
it to yer straight. Our guns amt
loaded; yer kin see fur yerself."
| Uncle Jim's face relaxed slightly.
He approached the men, who dared
not lower their hands, and took the
revolver from the belt of each. Sure
enough, they were not charged. He
! felt for concealed weapons. but found
none.
Gall right" he said. IL allow We
amt very dangerous jest now; but I'd
like to know what you cusses is a
doin'."
Then Mustang Nose spoke to him,
for the first time since his arrival at
the ranch, "I'Il tell ye," said he.
"Nle an this yere pard O. mine struck
g. streak O. bad luck; an we had
to light out OF Denver in a
| hurry, an we come down here. We
might as we'll be hung fur sheep
els fur lamb, and we wouldn't a. made
no bones OF maxim a strike in this
yere ranch; but, when you was a-givin'
US the grand bounce, an that pooty
little gal come out an looked at US
two toughs with them gentle eyes O.
herr, an spoke in that pityin' voice,
waal, blamed eli thet didn't jest fetch
me; an when [ got my pard alone, I
SEE to him, 'So funny business here,
an he SCI, You bet An we allowed
to light out OF this at daylight an
strike fur the mountains. Say Mister,
ye amt got no call to keep US, hev
ye?;'
Uncle Jim hesitated one moment;
then, with a shrug OF his shoulders, he
said:
YOU'RE right; amt got no use fur
ye. Git!'
The men needed no second pernis-
sion. In five minutes time they we're
well on the road to the foothills
Uncle Jim watched their progress.
IA precious pair o. toughs, an no
mistake, he said to himself. ''They'd
a-got away with US last night eff they'd
a-wanted to. An they let up because
the little girl was good to 'em. Waa|,
/ said there Wa MT no man tibet would
harm her, an even them cusses-thet
when We come to size EN- up, want
men, but brutes-they couldn't do it.
Now l allow they've been up to a
sight o'w;ckedness, but they done ono
squar thing, and no mlstake."
An hour passed, and still Uncls Jim
sat in the bright sunlight, gazing TO-
ward the foot hills. Then the sound
OF galloplng hoofs was heard it came
nearer and nearer, and six horse1ren,
splendidly mounted, rode round the
corner OF the house and pulled up.
To any one familiar with the west g
glance would have told their charac.
ter and their purpose. On their
stern, but not angry nor excited faces,
in their curiously unmistakable air of
grim, persistent determination was
written, asst in plain type, Vigilante!
"Hullo, Jim! shake!" cried the lead
whats up?" asked Uncle Jim, 70.
turning the salutatiun.
Have you seen q pair OF cusses
we're aiter?" asked the leader. zone
was tall, and the other short, With
red hair"
"Why," said Uncle Jim, 1--WE put 'em
up fur the night, an they amt been
gone more'n an hour"
''You put them up?" cried the lead
err, with an air OF astonishment, some
sign OF which appeared even on the
stern and solid faces behind him.
''You put them up, and there's any
one Of you alive to tell the tale this
morning? Well, I haven't time to
talk now, but when we come back
shall want to ask you what on earth
you did to keep them quiet. Now,
which way did they go? Straight up
that road to the range? All right.
Goodbye. Come on, boys" and they
were off at 8 gallop.
Uncle Jim sat as before, looking
straight before him. Close to the foot.
hills the mountain road forked, one
branch leading toward the south,
anot j1er to pass; and the frontiers
| man had seen the two men take the
former.
GET John had asked, of course I'd
a-told him which way they went, :"
said he to himself, "but they didn't
| wait. I allow them cusses is goin' to
be took, but / swear I'd sooner hev
'em took some other tina than jest
when they've done the one squar'
thing o. their lives" Then
he lighted his pipe. All Fong had
come noiselessly behind him. La
ter on he heard the latter cry, eli
YAH"
Uncle Jim looked up and saw the
Chinese boy gazing to- the westward.
| Eollo5utno his Glance ha ca11l,ht tho